Reverse mimicry is a rare phenomenon by any measure. Marengo's front end mimics the swollen abdomen of a shiny black fly whereas the folded and swollen raptorial front legs are held in such a way as to mimic the large black wing blotches on the flies wings. This type of fly is highly social and flits from leaf to leaf initiating contact. They land behind the 'fake fly' believing they are looking at the head. The spider rotates and, like a mantis, grasps the fly

Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) are ubiquitous in South East Asian coastal areas where they are usually a rusty orange colour. In northern Australia and southern New Guinea they are green. These ants serve as a model for a number of ant mimicking jumping spiders as well as a few species from the crab spider Family

Ants are mimicked by other terrestrial arthropods because they are prone to occur in large crowds; contain distasteful formic acid; can bite; or worse, sting. Most predators avoid them. Looking, and even better, behaving like ant can help your survival chances. The most numerous mimickers of ants are spiders and of these the largest and most sophisticated mimics are jumping spiders. The sexes appear to mimic different ant species

Ant mimicking spiders are confronted with three major challenges; 2 body parts verses 3; 8 legs verses 6; and grow by a series of moults verses larva metamorphosing into very different adult ant. To do this front pair of legs are used for antennae; third body segment created by counter-shading, third body segment created by constriction and/or swelling of abdomen;adopting ant-like behaviour. The most highly evolved mimics employ all three. In this species the adult sexes mimic different castes or species of ants. The remarkable male has achieved the third 'head' by expanding the tips of the massive jaw bases

Adult males of a number of South East Asian species have expanded the jaw base tips to make half a fake ant head. Like many body forms in nature they may have a dual purpose. Folded in an inner groove are the elongated fangs that are used as 'double foils' in fencing combat to establish mating rights

Ant mimicry by spiders can exemplify the the most sophisticated forms of visual mimicry recorded in nature because they are forced to grow by molting. This means the hatchling spider can not possibly mimic the same ant species as the mature adult, nor the half grown subadult. This translates to mimicking different species and/or castes (soldier or worker) as they grow. This level of complex growth related copying of other 'model' species is called transformational mimicry

Ants are mimicked by other terrestrial arthropods because they are prone to occur in large crowds; contain distasteful formic acid; can bite; or worse, sting. Most predators avoid them. Looking, and even better, behaving like ant can help your survival chances. The most numerous mimickers of ants are spiders and of these the largest and most sophisticated mimics are jumping spiders

Ant mimicry by spiders can exemplify the the most sophisticated forms of visual mimicry recorded in nature because they are forced to grow by molting. This means the hatchling spider can not possibly mimic the same ant species as the mature adult, nor the half grown subadult. This translates to mimicking different species and/or castes (soldier or worker) as they grow. This level of complex growth related copying of other 'model' species is called transformational mimicry

Even jumping spiders have explored the benefits of mimicking dark shiny toxic leaf beetles rather than ants. The genus Coccorchestes from Austropapuan region (see New Guinea spiders set) are the masters of this disguise. Like the ant mimics they employ their front legs as 'antennae' negating their walking function. The six remaining walking legs are differently patterned to emphasise their purpose

Myself and two other friends were in southern Sumatra following a fresh elephant trail (we could hear them in the distance) when I encountered this remarkable jumping spider on a trampled trackside sapling. As soon as it saw me it enacted the above display. The spider turned away from me, the abdomen was raised, the top pair of spinnerets raised and twitched like antennae giving the impression of an angry ant. A lower pair of spinnerets held like a pair of ant jaws. The colours, at least to my eyes, seemed not to match those of an ant

After enacting its remarkable bluff display I let this complex and colourful hymenopteran mimic go and it disappeared from sight. I slowly moved to a new position and snapped the animal at rest and grooming its front foot after having successfully repelled the ugly giant 2-legs that had interrupted its daily hunt

Orsima is one of the most sophisticated ant or wingless Female Mutillid wasp (not sure??) mimics I have encountered. With its reverse body approach; constricted 'false head' abdomen with painted on eyes; antennal upper pair of spinnerets; 'false jaws' lower spinnerets; and counter-shaded 'false waist' combined with all the right moves had me very excited

Many male jumping spiders employ contrasting and sometimes ornamented facial, jaw and palpal arrangements to impress potential mates. These features may also be included on the inner faces of the front legs. Choreograph this with appropriate dance moves and this fellow may have the good fortune of spreading his genes into part of the next generation

Many male jumping spiders employ contrasting and sometimes ornamented facial, jaw and palpal arrangements to impress potential mates. These features may also be included on the inner faces of the front legs. Choreograph this with appropriate dance moves and this fellow may have the good fortune of spreading his genes into part of the next generation

Large forward facing eyes characterise species that need to judge distance well in combination with 'face to face' communication skills. These are both requirements for successful life in all the animals in this picture, irrespective of their genetic distance from each other

Spiders that specialise in hunting other spiders whether they be web bound or open range hunters, including those of their own Family, are fair game for the genus Portia. This requires planning, excellent camouflage and patience. Watching these masterful predators at work reminds me of a stalking cat

This 'chunky' little jumping spider has extremely muscular forelegs. This suggests it tackles strong slow and perhaps poorly sighted prey like some beetles. Alternatively it may stalk small but dangerous poor-sighted prey like a stinging ant, the powerful legs allowing no room for any struggle before the venom is injected

The small genus Siler was first described from a Japanese species on the far northern edge of the generic range . Most species occur from southern China, through Vietnam to Sumatra with a couple of species crossing the Wallace line into Sumba and Ceram. They share the metallic coloration of the larger sympatric genera Cosmophasis and Cytaea

The small genus Siler was first described from a Japanese species on the far northern edge of the generic range . Most species occur from southern China, through Vietnam to Sumatra with a couple of species crossing the Wallace line into Sumba and Ceram. They share the metallic coloration of the larger sympatric genera Cosmophasis and Cytaea. The males attempt to seduce their mates using 'palpal sign language' and front leg waving

The small genus Siler was first described from a Japanese species on the far northern edge of the generic range . Most species occur from southern China, through Vietnam to Sumatra with a couple of species crossing the Wallace line into Sumba and Ceram. They share the metallic coloration of the larger sympatric genera Cosmophasis and Cytaea. The males attempt to seduce their mates using 'palpal sign language' and front leg waving

This Siler species appears to be undescribed, which is surprising, as it is one of the larger species, is strikingly coloured and marked, and it inhabits the tourist mecca that is the Indonesian island of Bali

This small compact species I have tentatively placed in the genus Siler pending expert comment. If it is indeed a Siler then it will be the second species to have been recorded east of the Wallace Line

This small compact species I have tentatively placed in the genus Siler pending expert comment. If it is indeed a Siler then it will be the second species to have been recorded east of the Wallace Line

This small compact species I have tentatively placed in the genus Siler pending expert comment. If it is indeed a Siler then it will be the second species to have been recorded east of the Wallace Line

This small compact species I have tentatively placed in the genus Siler pending expert comment. If it is indeed a Siler then it will be the second species to have been recorded east of the Wallace Line

The small genus Telamonia is best represented on the South East Asian mainland with a few species extending offshore east to the Philippines, south east to New Guinea, and west to Sri Lanka. The white females of this species typically show strong sexual dichromatism (pattern and colour differences)

Male Telamonia species tend to have brightly blotched legs, the metallic setae often tinged with pale blue. I could imagine Mr Wallace sitting on his rented Ternate house verandah composing his seminal essay on evolution by natural selection and being watched by a spider such as this in the adjacent garden

These colourful spiders quite happily coexist with high density concentrations of humans in cities and large towns where they live out their lives in gardens and parks. The pugnacious males therefore are often encountered by adults and children enacting their vigorous territorial and sexual behaviours. Small fortunes can be won and lost betting on these bouts

These colourful spiders quite happily coexist with high density concentrations of humans in cities and large towns where they live out their lives in gardens and parks. The pugnacious males therefore are often encountered by adults and children enacting their vigorous territorial and sexual behaviours. Small fortunes can be won and lost betting on these bouts

These colourful spiders quite happily coexist with high density concentrations of humans in cities and large towns where they live out their lives in gardens and parks. The pugnacious males therefore are often encountered by adults and children enacting their vigorous territorial and sexual behaviours. Small fortunes can be won and lost betting on these bouts

The males of this species are distinctive for two reasons; their simple contrasting pattern of yellow and black would normally indicate warning colours; the presence of closely paired stiff 'spines' forming a short 'sword' below the large anterior eyes. This structure appears to be unique in spiders and is used by males in 'face to face' combat

The males of this species are distinctive for two reasons; their simple contrasting pattern of yellow and black would normally indicate warning colours; the presence of closely paired stiff 'spines' forming a short 'sword' below the large anterior eyes. This structure appears to be unique in spiders and is used by males in 'face to face' combat